Victoria Day
On the Monday before May 25, Canadians celebrate the birthdays of two British queens born more than 100 years apart. The first queen was Queen Victoria. She was born on May 24, 1819. British people celebrated her birthday every year. After Queen Victoria’s death, Canadians continued to celebrate her birthday to express their loyalty to the British Empire. The holiday is named in her honour.
The second queen is the current queen of the United Kingdom, Elizabeth II. She was born on April 21, 1926, but Canadians celebrate her birthday on Victoria Day.
Canada celebrates Victoria Day with picnics, parades, outdoor concerts, and fireworks. Many families use the long weekend to go camping, host backyard barbecues, or otherwise get outside. It’s also a popular weekend for sporting events, such as car racing in Clarington, Ontario; the Scotiabank Blue Nose Marathon in Halifax, Nova Scotia; and logger sports with ax throwing, log rolling, and tree climbing in Kaslo, British Columbia.
At Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg, Ontario, you can get back to the holiday’s source during a 1860s-style birthday celebration for Queen Victoria, complete with mock military maneuvers, historical speeches, and a sing along of “God Save the Queen.” The authentic 19th century village also stages athletic games from the 1800s and serves birthday cake in the queen’s honor.
Picture Credit : Google